‘Mindoro oil spill damage hits P41 billion’

MANILA, Philippines — As stakeholders prepare to observe the first anniversary of the sinking of the motor tanker Princess Empress, the amount of damage caused by the subsequent oil spill has increased to P41.2 billion, an environmental group said yesterday.

Gerry Arances, executive director of the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development, estimated the damage to the environment at P40.1 billion and to the socio-economic sector at P1.1 billion.

Arances released the damage report two days before the first anniversary of the major maritime accident, which occurred in the waters off Naujan on Feb. 28, 2023.

“This is 800 times higher compared to the estimates of certain government agencies,” Arances said.

He said the government has yet to conduct a comprehensive study on the impact of the oil spill to the country’s marine protected areas.

“We need to conserve our marine protected areas as these are the sources of fish and livelihood of our fisherfolk,” he said.

Arances said the state of calamity in Pola town, ground zero of the maritime disaster, would be lifted tomorrow.

“It is important that the owner of the vessel will be held accountable, not only in the cleanup but also in the rehabilitation and compensation of affected residents, especially the fishermen,” Arances said.

He said the maritime disaster threatened the Verde Island Passage (VIP), the center of global marine biodiversity and home to endangered species.

VIP lead convenor Fr. Edwin Gariguez said necessary reforms have yet to be done a year after the incident.

Gariguez said that high concentrations of oil and grease are still present on the shores of Pola and Pinamalayan.

Traces of oil and grease remain visible in Naujan, Calapan and Mansalay, he said.

Activities will be held tomorrow to commemorate the first anniversary of the tragedy.

Gariguez said Oriental Mindoro Bishop Moises Cuevas will officiate a mass in Pola.